Cutting-die.



A. BATES.

CUTTING DIE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-10. 1909.

1,1 16,367. Patented NOV.10,1914.

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ARTHUR BATES, 0E LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUTTING-DIE.

To all whom it'may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR BATES, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Cutting- Dies, of which the following description, in connection With the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like referencecharacters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to dies of the class used for cutting blanks from thin sheet material such as upper leather for boots and shoes and contemplates the provision of an improved die of this type which shall be capable of manufacture by a convenient method, with a high degree of accuracy in outline and at a small cost.

More particularly the invention relates to the class of dies used with clicking presses to die out various parts of the uppers of boots and shoes. A skin of leather for such use varies greatly in quality, thickness and character in its different parts and in cutting blanks therefrom the die must be moved about over the leather, in order to cut blanks for different parts of the upper from that portion of the skin Which from its character, and wearing qualities is best adapted to it and imperfections or weak spots must be carefully detected and avoided. It is accordingly desirable that the die shall cover as little of the leather as possible in order that the workman may inspect the leather critically in determining the location of the die for cutting each blank and it is for the same reason desirable that no part of the die shall obstruct the view of the cutting edge. While it is true that the construction should be such as to afford an unobstructed view of the cutting edge, it is essential that the die shall be rigid and free from any tendency to spring out of shape under the repeated pressure to which it is subjected by the clicking press, since a deformation of the die would destroy the uniformity of the blanks produced. It is therefore important that the die shall be so constructed as to retainpermanently its original outline whatever treatment it receives. Accordingly, one

object of the present invention is to provide a die having great rigidity and being of such a construction as to permit a practically unobstructed view of the blank about to be cut and of the cutting edge of the die.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 10, 1909.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 489,229.

In moving a heavy die about over the surface of the leather the cutting edges are apt to scratch or mar the surface of the stock especially in operating on patent or fancy leather. With this in view, it is another object of the invention to construct a die which shall be as light as is consistent with the required strength and rigidity and at the same time of such shape that it may be easily lifted and manipulated by the workman. D

In the construction of dies the process of conforming the cutting edge to the desired outline requires considerable time and more or less skilled labor which tends to increase the expense of manufacturing an accurate die. Another object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a die of such a construction that the cutting edge may be conformed readily to the outline of the templet with a great degree of precision.

In practice it becomes necessary from time to time to sharpen the cutting edges of a die by grinding and in this process there is always danger that the original outline of the cutting edge may be varied. I'Vith this in View, it is another object of the present invention to provide a die of such a design that the cutting edges thereof may be reground conveniently with small liability of their original outline being lost.

It has been found that a die comprising one or more thin resilient blades secured to and taking their shape from a skeleton frame, preferably of metal, possesses the qualities above enumerated.

Inconstructing a die of the type referred to all forging and welding of the cutting blades is avoided, which is an important advantage since during these processes the stock for forming the cutting portion of an ordinary die is liable to become damaged. In manufacturing a die of this type, however, the frame may be shaped accuratcly to templet independently of the cutting blades which are secured thereto after the shape of the frame has been determined.

The skeleton frame may be cast of a metal or alloy having sul'licient strength and toughness to stand the repeated stresses im' posed upon it by the clicking press. If desired, the frame may be made of multi-ply or laminated wood, preferably with the laminae so arranged that the grain of altervertical face thereof maybe shaped in conformity with the outline of the blank to be cut and the cutting blades may be secured to the frame by means of any convenient fastening devices as screws or bolts which may be inserted at suitable intervals through the blades and into the face of the frame. The die may be formed of a single spring blade, or a number of separate blades may be employed, arranged in such a relation to one another as to constitute a continuous outline.

It will be apparent that together with the advantages already mentioned a die of this type possesses the additional advantage that the blades may be removed from the frame for resharpening and for replacement in case a portion of the cutting edge becomes damaged, whereas, heretofore, a nicked or broken portion in the cutting edge destroyed the usefulness of the entire die. These and other features of the invention, however, will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of several embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents in perspective a clicking die constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the die shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through a die showing a modified construction; Fig. 4: is a similar view showing still another construction.

in the die shown in Fig. 1, the frame 6 of metal or other suitable material is conformed to the shape of the blank to be cut. The inner vertical face of the frame is accurately formed by filing or grinding to the shape of the desired outline but is slightly larger in size. The frame comprises a vertical portion and an outwardly extending flange 4 which furnishes the necessary stiffness and at the same time leaves the center of the die open so that the work can be inspected therethrough and the position of the cutting edge accurately ascertained. The flange a provided upon the upper edge of the frame affords convenient means for gripping and moving the die and also provides a substantial bearing surface for the arm of the clicking press to act upon in cutting out blanks. The blade 2 is bent in conformity with the curves of the frame. 6 and is secured to the inner face thereof by bolts 8. A single flexible blade may be employed or if preferred a number of separate blades may constitute the cutting outline, in which case, the bending of a flexible blade about a sharp corner is avoided.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 3 the arrangement resembles that first described, except that the blade 2 does not extend to the upper edge of the frame but is received in a recess formed in the inner face of the frame and bears with its upper edge against an annular shoulder or ledge which forms the upper part of the recess. In this modification the frame is provided with an outwardly extending flange 14: and the blade is secured to the frame by means of the bolts 8 as in the previous modification.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. l, the frame 26 is made of multi-ply or laminated wood. This frame may be constructed by cementing or gluing together a number of thin pieces of wood with or without the addition of screws or other fasteners. When the laminae are secured together as aforesaid, the central portion may be cut out to form. the open central portion of the die. Preferably the layers of wood are arranged with the grain of alternate pieces extending in different directions. In the arrangement wherein the frame is composed of laminated wood, the cutting blade is secured to the inner face of the frame by the bolts 8, the heads of which may be counter-sunk if desired. To strengthen the frame and protect the wood during the cutting process'there is provided a metal plate 24 secured to its upper surface and having a shape to correspond with the form of the frame. The plate 24- projects slightly beyond the inner face of the frame and forms a shoulder or ledge which overlies the upper edge of the blade. No part of the frame, however, projects beyond the plane of the inner face of the blade 2 or in any way obstructs a view of its cutting edge.

Several dies having been described in detail, a method of manufacturing them Will now be described. As already suggested this method involves the production of a skeleton frame of the required shape and the mounting thereon of the cutting blades of the die. The skeleton frame may be advantageously cast of iron or a suitable alloy or may be forged. A templet giving the outline of the die having been formed, and a rough frame constructed, the inner face thereof is made to conform accurately with the outline of the templet. l/Vhen this step is completed the blade or blades, which consist of ribbon steel sharpened to a cutting edge, are forced against the inner face of thelframe and so bent into conformity therewit 1. by suitable fastening means extending through the blades and into the face of the frame.

By the method hereinabove described an upper cutting die adapted to cut exactly to a given pattern can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

When large or intricate patterns are to be cut it may be found necessary to strengthen the form of the skeleton frame to prevent it from springing. This may be done by pro viding suitable strutting or bridging across They are then secured to the frame the frame in places. Such struts or bridges beside strengthening the die provide additional means for lifting and moving the same and locating it upon the leather.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A die comprising a skeleton frame having an unobstructed center, a continuous flat pressure receiving surface, and an inner vertical face shaped in conformity with the outline of the blanks to be cut, but with the out line of the vertical face slightly larger than said blanks, and one or more flexible cutting blades secured to and taking their shape from said face of the frame and being beveled on the side toward said face whereby the outline of the cutting edge coincides with the outline desired for the blanks.

2. A die comprising a skeleton frame hav ing a plane upper surface adapted to receive pressure from a member having a plane striking surface and an inner face of the contour desired in the blanks to be cut, and cutting blades of flexible and resilient material secured to the frame in continuous contact with said inner face, taking their shape therefrom and being held permanently in shape thereby.

3. A die comprising a blade beveled on its outer edge and a skeleton frame embracing the outer face of said blade and formed with an unobstructed center and a continuous blade embracing face having the same outline as the exterior face of the blade, said frame lying without the plane of the inner face of said blade.

4. A die comprising a skeleton frame formed with an unobstructed center and a continuous inner bladecarrying face in shape similar to, but larger than the blank to be cut, and flexible cutting blades secured to, and taking their shape from said bladecarrying face, the thickness of said blades compensating for the excess size of the frame.

5. A die comprising an endless skeleton frame with an inner blade shaping and carrying face, and blades of flexible and resilient material conformed to said face and maintained in continuous contact therewith, the frame being so shaped as to afford an uninterrupted view of the cutting edges through the interior of the die.

6. A die comprising a skeleton frame having an outwardly extending flange, an inwardly extending shoulder, a pressure receiving surface and an inner vertical face having a contour of the shape of the blanks to be cut by the die, and flexible cutting blades conforming to the contour of said inner vertical face, taking their shape therefrom and being secured thereto with their upper edges abutting against the under side of said inwardly extending shoulder.

7. A die comprising a skeleton frame having an unobstructed center and a laterally extending flange forming a continuous pres sure receiving surface, a shoulder on the inner side of the frame below the pressure receiving surface and a continuous inner face having a contour similar to the shape of the blanks to be cut by-the die, flexible blades conforming to the contour of said inner face, and fastening devices extending laterally through said face and securing said blades to the frame below said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR BATES.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR ERNEST JERRAM, GRACE HOLMES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

